ooh! I'm glad this is here. I s'pose I'll chime in.
Some girlfriends introduced me to Wicca some 10 yrs ago, and it sounded kinda cool. But somewhere in the transition it took on something completely different for me. I found purpose and direction for my soul - and the freedom of searching within myself for the answers which Christianity could not provide me. I used to work with others, but for the majority of the last decade have been what some might call a solitary. I left Wicca b/c it was not open enough for me so am now and have been for several yrs an ecclectic pagan - which means that i combine elements from different practices. I pick up gods from different pantheons; celtic otherworld principles, norse virtue, pantheism, buddhism's samsara, chivalry, sumerian abyss, celestial influences, different types of magic (that focus on elements such as herbs, stones, elements in general, chaos, night energy, blood, etc.)
Ethics?
The Wiccan way prides itself on 'an ye harm none, do what ye will'. Odinism holds the nine virtues to the highest. I know that I am a virtuous soul, but not all the time. I get very overheated, with the medication I'm on, and often times have trouble keeping my hot head in check. For myself, knowing when to act is paramount. At times it is more important for me to exert much self control than to set my sights on screwing people over unless they absolutely deserve it (that's called a hex or revenge). I am not above revenge. Our rules are set by our perceptions of the distribution of order and chaos. Some people claim to have no rules... I claim to have some though i appear very loose in my ethical structure. Certain violations warrant revenge. Murder, rape, molestation.
Sexuality?
We are what we are. We might not always understand it, but its a learning experience, part and parcel to the life we live and the environment we do it in. I won't discriminate against people of other sexes, unless they've done something right terrible to me to warrant it and even then my complaint would be with their character not their sexuality.
Gay Marriage?
Marriage is the foundation of a family, and family has traditionally been defined as between man and woman, the two who beget the progeny for the world to come. Biologically it works. Hetero couples who don't wish to marry live together for years and often become common law relationships. A common law homosexual relationship i would recognize and it would be beneficial if they would receive benefits fitting for the loved ones of people who die prematurely, or other situations. However in my viewpoint, children need both masculine and feminine influences to understand the scope of both and enable them with the direction in which they choose to go. This is one woman's opinion.
Abortion?
I don't support it. I view it as killing life, b/c i believe that life begins at conception. But i don't have the right to attack someone else for choosing it as their way. Is there karma for people who have abortions? I don't know.
Euthanasia and Suicide?
We, the inheritors of the dna strands that carry the PCOS traits understand pain better than anyone, or as much as anyone. Its tough living with it day in and out - but must weigh the options. I watched my mother die of cancer and she never wanted to live by machine. I wasn't sure what to do for her so i let nature run its course - thinking it best. I still stand by that credo today. If its time to go , we go. If not we stay. In the earliest days of my PCOS i was very depressed - suicide was an option (not b/c i had PCOS but because i hated life) that never came to fruition. Do suicides feel the sting of karma? that i don't know either. I think they're good questions though.
Politics?
People who don't have a pre-established religion, but have flexibility seem the most likely candidates to also have a flexible belief system in the arena of politics. I would think that pagans would be in support of family values, national defense, borders, language, culture, etc. However there are brutal battles between the two main parties. I don't like all of any parties i've seen so far. I agree with some conservative viewpoints, some liberal viewpoints, and thusly consider myself a conservative independent.
Circle casting?
It creates a border of protection through the form of a circle of energy to protect one from any fly by maligned spirits and provides a focus for the caster. Not everyone feels the need to do it. I don't do it very often.
trying to cover all bases.. hope i have. |